Local inhibition of nitrergic activity in tenotomized rats accelerates muscle regeneration by increasing fiber area and decreasing central core lesions

Muscular atrophy is a progressive degeneration characterized by muscular proteolysis, loss of mass and decrease in fiber area. Tendon rupture induces muscular atrophy due to an intrinsic functional connection. Local inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) by Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) accelerates tendon histological recovery and induces functional improvement. Here we evaluate the effects of such local nitrergic inhibition on the pattern of soleus muscle regeneration after tenotomy. Adult male Wistar rats (240 to 280 g) were divided into four experimental groups: control (n=4), tenotomized (n=6), vehicle (n=6), and L-NAME (n=6). Muscular atrophy was induced by calcaneal tendon rupture in rats. Changes in muscle wet weight and total protein levels were determined by the Bradford method, and muscle fiber area and central core lesion (CCL) occurrence were evaluated by histochemical assays. Compared to tenotomized (69.3±22%) and vehicle groups (68.1%±17%), L-NAME treatment induced an increase in total protein level (108.3±21%) after 21 days post-injury. A reduction in fiber areas was observed in tenotomized (56.3±1.3%) and vehicle groups (53.9±3.9%). However, L-NAME treatment caused an increase in this parameter (69.3±1.6%). Such events were preceded by a remarkable reduction in the number of fibers with CCL in L-NAME-treated animals (12±2%), but not in tenotomized (21±2.5%) and vehicle groups (19.6±2.8%). Altogether, our data reveal that inhibition of tendon NOS contributed to the attenuation of atrophy and acceleration of muscle regeneration.

Non-destructive linear model for leaf area estimation in Vernonia ferruginea Less / Modelo linear não-destrutivo para estimativa de área foliar de Vernonia ferruginea Less

Leaf area estimation is an important biometrical trait for evaluating leaf development and plant growth in field and pot experiments. We developed a non-destructive model to estimate the leaf area (LA) of Vernonia ferruginea using the length (L) and width (W) leaf dimensions. Different combinations of linear equations were obtained from L, L2, W, W2, LW and L2W2. The linear regressions using the product of LW dimensions were more efficient to estimate the LA of V. ferruginea than models based on a single dimension (L, W, L2 or W2). Therefore, the linear regression “LA=0.463+0.676WL” provided the most accurate estimate of V. ferruginea leaf area. Validation of the selected model showed that the correlation between real measured leaf area and estimated leaf area was very high.

A estimativa de área foliar é um importante traço biométrico para avaliação do desenvolvimento foliar e do crescimento vegetal em experimentos de campo e casa-de-vegetação. Foi desenvolvido um modelo linear não destrutivo capaz de estimar a área foliar (AF) de Vernonia ferruginea usando o comprimento (C) e a largura (L) foliar. Diferentes combinações de equações lineares foram obtidas a partir de C, C2, L, L2, CL e C2L2. As regressões lineares usando o produto de dimensões CL foram mais eficientes para estimar a AF de V. ferruginea do que os modelos baseados em uma única dimensão (C, L, C2 ou L2). O modelo linear "AF = 0,463+0,676 CL" forneceu com maior precisão a AF de V. ferruginea em relação aos demais modelos testados. A validação do modelo selecionado revelou elevada correlação entre a área foliar real e a área foliar estimada pelo modelo.

Non-destructive equations to estimate the leaf area of Styrax pohlii and Styrax ferrugineus / Equações lineares para estimativa de área foliar de Styrax pohlii e Styrax ferrugineus

We developed linear equations to predict the leaf area (LA) of the species Styrax pohlii and Styrax ferrugineus using the width (W) and length (L) leaf dimensions. For both species the linear regression (Y=α+bX) using LA as a dependent variable vs. W × L as an independent variable was more efficient than linear regressions using L, W, L2 and W2 as independent variables. Therefore, the LA of S. pohlii can be estimated with the equation LA=0.582+0.683WL, while the LA of S. ferrugineus follows the equation LA=−0.666+0.704WL.

Foram determinadas equações lineares para estimar a área foliar (AF) de Styrax pohlii e Styrax ferrugineus utilizando dimensões do limbo foliar (C – comprimento, L – largura). O modelo linear (Y=α+bX), utilizando AF vs. C × L, foi mais eficiente que os modelos lineares utilizando C, L, C2 e L2 como variáveis independentes na determinação da área foliar de S. pohlii e S. ferrugineus. Assim, a AF de S. pohlii pode ser estimada pelo modelo AF=0,582+0,683CL e a AF de S. ferrugineus pode ser estimada pelo modelo AF=−0,666+0,704CL.

Microbiological and host features associated with corynebacteriosis in cancer patients: a five-year study

During a five-year period, 932 clinical isolates from cancer patients treated in a Brazilian reference centre were identified as corynebacteria; 86 percent of the cultures came from patients who had been clinically and microbiologically classified as infected and 77.1 percent of these patients had been hospitalised (71.1 percent from surgical wards). The adult solid tumour was the most common underlying malignant disease (66.7 percent). The univariate and multivariate analyses showed that hospitalised patients had a six-fold greater risk (OR = 5.5, 95 percent CI = 1.15-26.30 p = 0.033) related to 30-day mortality. The predominant species were Corynebacterium amycolatum (44.7 percent), Corynebacterium minutissimum (18.3 percent) and Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum (8.5 percent). The upper urinary tracts, surgical wounds, lower respiratory tracts, ulcerated tumours and indwelling venous catheters were the most frequent sources of C. amycolatum strains. Corynebacterium jeikeium infection occurred primarily in neutropenic patients who have used venous catheters, while infection caused by C. amycolatum and other species emerged mainly in patients with solid tumours.

Vascular flora of the Upper Paraná River floodplain

The purpose of this study was to update the floristic inventory found in the Upper Paraná River floodplain. Floristic surveys were performed from February 2000 through March 2008, as part of the Brazilian Long-Term Ecological Research Program (PELD/CNPq -Site 6). The material collected was identified from 774 species, 442 genera, and 116 families. The ten families with high species richness were Leguminosae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Myrtaceae, Cyperaceae, Solanaceae, Sapindaceae, and Orchidaceae, which contributed to 46.1% of the total number of species. Genera with high richness were Solanum, Cyperus, Panicum, Eugenia, Tillandsia, Serjania, Casearia, and Polygonum, which together contributed to 10.2% of the total number of species. These data, combined with information published in 1997, recorded 955 species, 575 genera, and 128 families. These organisms were from several riparian environments and were distributed as herbs, shrubs, trees, climbers and epiphytes. Panicum maximum, Pennisetum purpureum, Ricinus communis, and Urochloa decumbens are considered weeds due to the wide distributions determined for these species. The results presented herein suggest the need to further investigate the control of these potential weed species.

Com o objetivo de ampliar os conhecimentos sobre a flora da planície de inundação do Alto Rio Paraná, foram conduzidos inventários florísticos no período de fevereiro de 2000 a março de 2008, incluídos no Programa Brasileiro de Pesquisas Ecológicas de Longa Duração (PELD/CNPq - Sítio 6). O material coletado foi identificado em 774 espécies, 442 gêneros e 116 famílias. As dez famílias de maior riqueza de espécies foram Leguminosae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Myrtaceae, Cyperaceae, Solanaceae, Sapindaceae e Orchidaceae, que juntas reuniram 46,1% do total do número de espécies. Os gêneros com maior riqueza de espécies foram Solanum, Cyperus, Panicum, Eugenia, Tillandsia, Serjania, Casearia e Polygonum, que juntos reuniram 10,2% do número de espécies. Estes dados, somados aos publicados em 1997, permitiram elevar para 955 espécies, 555 gêneros e 128 famílias, distribuídos entre herbáceas, arbustivas, arbóreas, lianas e epífitas, e em diversas formações ripárias. Panicum maximum, Pennisetum purpureum, Ricinus communis e Urochloa decumbens são consideradas invasoras e sugerimos estudos propondo seu controle.